Pakistan, India and Kashmir: UK-funded NGO work

Lord Ahmed: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Which British and foreign non-governmental organisations, which are active in Pakistan, India and Kashmir, received funding directly or indirectly from the British Government in the fiscal years 1997-98 and 1998-99; and whether they will provide details of the funding provided by each organisation.

Baroness Amos: The Department for International Development (DFID) is currently supporting in excess of 70 projects, implemented through British non-governmental organisations, in Pakistan and India. It would be difficult to delineate in the way requested because we are not funding any projects specific to Kashmir. We will place a list of these organisations in the Library of the House.

The Lord Lieutenancy

Lord Palmer: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How many counties in the United Kingdom are currently without a Lord Lieutenant, and whether in future, when a Lord Lieutenant retires, they will do their best to ensure an immediate succession.

Lord Falconer of Thoroton: The County of Gwent and the Lieutenancies of Berwickshire, Lanarkshire and the Western Isles are currently without Lord Lieutenants. My right honourable friend the Prime Minister endeavours to submit names to Her Majesty the Queen in a timely fashion to avoid any interregnum. Delays can arise for a variety of reasons such as the death of a Lord Lieutenant or a resignation on grounds of ill-health.

The Lord Lieutenancy

Lord Palmer: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether a resident of a county of England could be appointed as Lord Lieutenant for a county in Scotland.

Lord Falconer of Thoroton: There is no statutory requirement in respect of a Lord Lieutenant's residence. Given the nature of a Lord Lieutenant's duties, it would be unlikely for a Lord Lieutenant to be appointed who did not have a residence in, or in very close proximity to, the Lieutenancy in question.

The Lord Lieutenancy

Lord Palmer: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Why the County of Berwickshire is currently without a Lord Lieutenant and when they expect an appointment to be made.

Lord Falconer of Thoroton: The former Lord Lieutenant of Berwickshire, Major General Sir John Swinton, retired on 21 April on reaching 75. Work on the process of identifying a successor is well in hand. On this occasion staff changes in the Office of the Secretary of Commissions for Scotland regrettably contributed to the delay in the process.

Rural Social Exclusion: Ministerial Network

Lord Patten: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by Lord Falconer of Thoroton on 2 May (WA 157), what examples they can give of the successful "chasing of progress on the implementation of previous Social Exclusion Unit reports".

Lord Falconer of Thoroton: The Ministerial Network has met twice under its new remit, on January 31 and May 15 2000.
	At the first meeting my right honourable friend the Minister for the Cabinet Office agreed a future work programme to chase progress on the implementation of previous social exclusion reports with ministerial colleagues. At the second meeting the Network discussed follow-up implementation of action from the SEU report on school exclusions and truancy.
	My right honourable friend the Minister for the Cabinet Office now plans to hold three further meetings. These will take place in June and July, to follow up implementation of action from the SEU reports on rough sleepers, teenage pregnancy and 16-18 year olds not in education, employment or training.
	My right honourable friend the Minister for the Cabinet Office will report progress on implementation across all these areas to the Prime Minister once the meetings have taken place.

"Lovebug" Computer Virus

The Earl of Northesk: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by the Lord Falconer of Thoroton on 28 February (WA 41) concerning government computer network protection, and given the self-replicating nature of the "ILOVEYOU" e-mail virus, which creates an equivalence with a "pingstorm" attack, whether they remain satisfied that their servers and routers are adequately protected.

Lord Falconer of Thoroton: The "LOVEBUG" virus is not a PINGSTORM attack, but what is in Internet parlance a "worm".
	Government departments were advised of appropriate countermeasures promptly and the effect on their operations was small.

"Lovebug" Computer Virus

The Earl of Northesk: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether any departmental computer systems were infected by the "ILOVEYOU" e-mail virus; if so, which departments: and to what detrimental effect.

Lord Falconer of Thoroton: Each Government department is responsible for its own security and they are not required to respond individually to the Cabinet Office. However departments are encouraged to report in confidence all IT security incidents, including virus infections under the Unified Incident Reporting and Alert Scheme (UNIRAS), which is co-ordinated by the National Infrastructure Security Co-ordination Centre (NISCC).
	Although some departments and agencies have yet to make their report to UNIRAS, initial returns suggest that the virus affected in the region of one-third. The actual effect on these departments' computer systems was limited, with the main impact being on the availability of e-mail systems. There were almost no reports of damage to the integrity of systems nor were computer networks delivering critical functions significantly affected.

Tribunals: Review

Lord Currie of Marylebone: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What is their response to Sir Jeffery Bowman's recommendation in his report on the Crown Office List that there should be a comprehensive review of the present structure, jurisdiction, procedures, remedies and routes of appeal of tribunals.

Lord Irvine of Lairg: I welcome Sir Jeffery Bowman's recommendation. It has been 43 years since the last thorough review of tribunals. The number of tribunals has grown greatly since then. There has also been a fundamental change in the nature of, and pressures on, their work. I have therefore decided that there should be a wide-ranging, independent review of tribunals.
	Its terms of reference will be:
	"To review the delivery of justice through tribunals other than ordinary courts of law, constituted under an Act of Parliament by a Minister of the Crown or for purposes of a Minister's functions; in resolving disputes, whether between citizens and the state, or between other parties, so as to ensure that:
	There are fair, timely, proportionate and effective arrangements for handling those disputes, within an effective framework for decision-making which encourages the systematic development of the area of law concerned, and which forms a coherent structure, together with the superior courts, for the delivery of administrative justice;
	The administrative and practical arrangements for supporting those decision-making procedures meet the requirements of the European Convention on Human Rights for independence and impartiality;
	There are adequate arrangements for improving people's knowledge and understanding of their rights and responsibilities in relation to such disputes, and that tribunals and other bodies function in a way which makes those rights and responsibilities a reality;
	The arrangements for the funding and management of tribunals and other bodies by government departments are efficient, effective and economical; and pay due regard both to judicial independence, and to ministerial responsibility for the administration of public funds;
	Performance standards for tribunals are coherent, consistent, and public; and effective measures for monitoring and enforcing those standards are established; and
	Tribunals overall constitute a coherent structure for the delivery of administrative justice.
	The review may examine, in so far as it considers it necessary, administrative and regulatory bodies which also make judicial decisions as part of their functions."
	The review will be led by Sir Andrew Leggatt, supported by Dame Valerie Strachan, and a team of expert advisors. It will operate in an open, consultative way, involving and seeking views from as wide a range of interests as possible. I have asked Sir Andrew to report to me by 31 March 2001.

ECOFIN Exchange Rate Discussions

Lord Shore of Stepney: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by Lord McIntosh of Haringey on 20 April (WA 139), and in the light of the depreciation of the euro against the pound sterling and other currencies since its launch on 1 January 1999, on what occasions the Chancellor of the Exchequer has raised the problem of undervaluation of the euro with his fellow members of ECOFIN (Economic and Finance Council of Ministers); and with what results.

Lord McIntosh of Haringey: As I set out in my Answer on 20 April, the Chancellor of the Exchequer meets regularly with other Ministers in the Economic and Finance Council of Ministers (ECOFIN), and a wide range of economic and financial issues are discussed.

Poor Countries: Debt Relief

The Earl of Sandwich: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How many countries have reached decision point in the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries initiative; how many will complete the process by the end of this year; and in how many countries there will be further delay.

Lord McIntosh of Haringey: Five countries have now reached decision point under the enhanced HIPC initiative (Uganda, Bolivia, Mauritania, Tanzania and Mozambique) and are receiving debt relief. All five benefit from the UK Government's decision to provide 100 per cent relief to countries qualifying under the HIPC initiative.
	G7 Finance Ministers, meeting in Washington at the time of the IMF Spring Meeting last month, reaffirmed their wish to see the IMF, the World Bank and eligible countries co-operate closely to secure the implementation of the HIPC initiative with the aim that the eligible countries reach their decision point by the end of 2000, in line with the Cologne target (three-quarters of eligible countries).

Poor Countries: Debt Relief

The Earl of Sandwich: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How much of the 100 billion US dollars in debt relief announced at the G8 summit in Cologne last year had already been promised under the Naples terms; how much has not been delivered; and, in the case of Tanzania, what has been its reduction in debt service under the latest Heavily Indebted Poor Countries initiative.

Lord McIntosh of Haringey: Of the $100 billion of debt relief promised under the enhanced HIPC initiative, approximately $30 billion will be provided as relief under traditional debt relief mechanisms (Naples terms rescheduling from Paris Club creditors). The remaining $70 billion of debt relief will further reduce the debts of countries that would otherwise have had unsustainable debt burdens remaining, even after traditional debt relief mechanisms.
	In the case of Tanzania, the assistance provided by the HIPC Initiative will amount to $2 billion--more than half of the country's total debt. The assistance provided by the IMF will cover on average 58 per cent of debt-service obligations to the Fund and the World Bank's assistance will cover over 69 per cent of Tanzania's debt service obligations to the Bank. Overall, the assistance provided under the HIPC Initiative will mean that Tanzania's ratio of debt service to exports will fall from 25 per cent to approximately 9.5 per cent in 2000-01 and then to 5 per cent in the future.

Gold Reserves: Sale

The Earl of Northesk: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What is their response to the analysis of the World Gold Council that the Chancellor's decision to sell to date 120 tonnes of the United Kingdom's gold reserves has cost £25 million.

Lord McIntosh of Haringey: The UK's programme of gold sales were part of a prudent medium term programme to restructure the reserves which aims to achieve a better balance in the Government's portfolio. There will be times when currencies depreciate and times when they appreciate. Having a diversified portfolio avoids being too exposed to any one asset.

Aldershot Garrison

Lord Vivian: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether Aldershot Military Garrison or parts of it are being prepared for sale.

Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean: There are currently no plans to sell any Army Estate within the Aldershot Garrison. A scoping study is under way, however, to explore the possibility of redeveloping Aldershot Garrison through a Public Private Partnership project, and it is conceivable that this may identify surplus land. The feasibility stage of this study is not due to report until the end of this year.

General Social Care Council

Lord Bruce of Donington: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	When they intend to establish the General Social Care Council.

Lord Hunt of Kings Heath: We propose to establish the General Social Care Council on 1 October 2001.
	Originally, we had intended to establish the new council on 1 April 2001. However, the GSCC Advisory Group, set up to consider the requirements for a well functioning council, has recommended October 2001 as a more appropriate start date. This will allow sufficient time to complete the many tasks that have to be undertaken for the council to begin its important work. The Care Standards Bill, which is currently before this House, proposes vital functions for the GSCC that will increase the level of safety offered to the public. We see it as being in the best interests of the public and the GSCC itself that sufficient time is allowed in order to deliver a council that is ready and able to take forward these vital functions.
	The GSCC Advisory Group will be continuing its role until the council is established in shadow form.

Food Origin Labelling

Baroness Byford: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by the Lord Hunt of Kings Heath on 8 May (WA 207), whether they have specifically raised within the European Union the question whether all meat products will be separately identified in the same manner as beef.

Lord Hunt of Kings Heath: We have raised the need for a review of origin labelling rules with the European Commission and other member states. This review would include consideration of meat products. We have also raised the issue in the wider international forum of the Code Alimentarius Commission's Committee on Food Labelling.

Young Asylum-seekers:Faster Decision-making

Lord Alton of Liverpool: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they will make it a priority to speed up the processing of asylum claims of young asylum seekers over and above those of other applicants.

Lord Bassam of Brighton: The need to speed up the processing of asylum claims of young people has already been recognised and a dedicated team was established at the end of March this year to deal with these applications. The Integrated Casework Directorate is looking at ways of speeding up the decision-making process for these cases still further and to speed up asylum decision-making as a whole.

State Pension: Investment Equivalent

Lord Blackwell: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What is their estimate of the annual sum that would need to be invested during a normal working lifetime to accumulate a capital sum on retirement that would secure the equivalent income from investments to that promised by the current state pension.

Baroness Hollis of Heigham: It is estimated that a man would need to save about £450 a year and a woman about £750 a year over a full working life (49 years for a man and 44 years for a woman) to save a capital sum that would generate an income in retirement equal to the basic state pension.

State Pension: Investment Equivalent

Lord Blackwell: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What is their estimate of the capital sum that would need to be given to a pensioner retiring today to enable him to secure the equivalent income from investments to that promised by the current state pension.

Baroness Hollis of Heigham: It is estimated that a man aged 65 would need a capital sum of about £50,000 and a woman aged 60 about £70,000 to secure an income in retirement equal to the basic state pension.

Act of Union: Bicentenary

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by Baroness Scotland of Asthal on 16 March (WA 230), which indicated that relations with the Irish Government were a factor to be taken into account in their decision not to mark the bicentenary of the creation of the United Kingdom, and in view of the fact that the Irish Government is holding events to mark the bicentenary, why they consider that relations with that Government would be damaged if they were to mark the bicentenary.

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: I refer the noble Lord to the Answer given by my noble friend Lord Falconer of Thoroton on 9 May, Official Report, col. 1364.
	As we have made clear, although we have no plans at present for a formal commemoration of the 200th anniversary on the 1801 Act of Union we fully recognise the historic significance of that Act. We do not believe that our bilateral relations with Ireland would suffer as a result of marking the bicentenary. However, it is the long established practice of the Government to take into account the views of its partners on all matters that might have a bearing on international relations.

Kashmir

Lord Ahmed: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What is their assessment of the tension on the line of control between India and Pakistan.

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: The tension in Kashmir, including along the Line of Control, is a cause for concern. We continue to encourage India and Pakistan to find, through dialogue, a just and lasting solution acceptable to the people of Kashmir.

Kashmir

Lord Ahmed: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they have any evidence of British men training to take part in hostilities in Kashmir.

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: We are aware of reports of UK citizens travelling overseas for "Jihad" training, and of allegations that these individuals then take part in conflicts in different parts of the world. There is no evidence of any breach of UK laws.

Kashmir

Lord Ahmed: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they support a final resolution of the Kashmir conflict; and what steps they have taken in this regard.

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: We fully support India and Pakistan in their search for a solution in Kashmir. We continue to encourage them to return to dialogue to find a just and lasting solution acceptable to the people of Kashmir.

Nuclear Disarmament

Lord Jenkins of Putney: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they will adopt and implement the Model Convention on the prohibition of the development, testing, production, stockpiling, transfer, use and threat of use of nuclear weapons and on their elimination contained in Security and Survival--The Case for a Nuclear Weapons Convention, issued by the International Association of Lawyers Against Nuclear Arms, the International Network of Engineers and Scientists Against Proliferation, the International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War and others.

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: As I made clear to my noble friend on 12 April 2000, (WA 188), the Government do not believe the circumstances yet exist to make starting negotiations on a nuclear weapons convention a practical proposition.

Over Thirty Months Scheme: Weight Limit

Lord Tomlinson: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	When the weight limit on payments for cattle entering the Over Thirty Months Scheme will be removed.

Baroness Hayman: On 12 May the Beef Management Committee agreed to a Commission proposal to remove the weight limit on payments for all cattle entering the Over Thirty Months Scheme. This will take effect for all cattle entering the scheme on or after 5 June. This delivers on a key element of the Government's Action Plan for Farming. It is worth £20 million a year in payments to UK farmers and will also increase asset values. It will be of particular benefit to those running suckler herds.

Non-attendance at School: Parental Fines

Baroness Blatch: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How many parents have been found guilty and fined in connection with the offence of non-attendance at school; and
	What is the average fine for parents found guilty in connection with the offence of non-attendance at school; and
	How many parents have received the maximum fine of £2,500 in connection with the offence of non-attendance at school.

Baroness Blackstone: We estimate that local education authorities undertake around 9,000 prosecutions a year of parents whose children are not attending school regularly. But in 80 per cent of cases, parents do not turn up in court and are fined in their absence. To challenge this culture amongst some parents that education is not important, we are proposing the rise in the level of the offence for non-attendance at school. More detailed information on the numbers found guilty and average fines is, however, not held centrally and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.

Fresh Start Schools

Baroness Blatch: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Which schools have been selected for the Fresh Start programme; which schools continue to be part of the programme; which schools have failed or been recommended for closure; and what are the costs for each school associated with the programme.

Baroness Blackstone: Fresh Start is not a programme but an option for local education authorities to tackle failure. A Fresh Start requires the closure of a "failing" school and the opening of a new school on the same site. It offers a radical approach to securing school improvement for failing schools showing insufficient evidence of recovery.
	Fresh Start policy is at its infancy--only 15 schools have undergone a Fresh Start to date, 11 secondary and four primary. Three opened in September 1998, eight in September 1999, two in January 2000, one in April 2000 and one in May 2000.
	
		
			 New School Name Former School Name Phase LEA Area 
			  September 1998 
			 Firfield Community School Blakelaw School Secondary Newcastle 
			 Fir Vale School Earl Marshall School Secondary Sheffield 
			 Regis County Secondary The King's CE School Secondary Wolverhampton 
			  September 1999 
			 East Brighton College of Media Arts The Marina High School Secondary Brighton 
			 Islington Arts and Media George Orwell School Secondary Islington 
			 Kingswood High School Perronet Thompson School Secondary Kingston upon Hull 
			 Telegraph Hill Hatcham Wood School Secondary Lewisham 
			  
			 Bishopsford Community School Watermeads High School Secondary Merton 
			 River Leen School Alderman Derbyshire School Secondary Nottingham City 
			 New Parks Community College New College Secondary Leicester City 
			 Langham School Park View Academy Secondary Haringey 
			  January 2000 
			 Manor Oak Primary Kevington Primary School Primary Bromley 
			 The Richard Heathcote Community Primary Heathcote County Primary Primary Staffordshire 
			  April/May 2000 
			 New Christ Church CE VC Primary Christ Church CE VC Primary Primary Reading 
			 Goose Green Primary Grove Vale Primary Primary Southwark 
		
	
	At the end of the spring term 2000, 446 schools were deemed to be "failing" and in need of special measures. A Fresh Start is planned for eight of these schools by the local education authorities concerned in September 2000. The schools are in Sheffield, Bristol, Hackney, Bournemouth, Essex, Stockport and Northamptonshire.
	So far, local education authorites have met the costs associated with the Fresh Start process using a variety of existing funding sources, including the Standards Fund and New Deal for Schools. The costs of Fresh Start will vary and details are not readily available.
	In line with the Government's ambitious new targets that all schools should achieve 20 per cent five GCSEs at Grades A*-C by 2004 and 25 per cent by 2006, all schools gaining less than 15 per cent 5A*-C at GCSE over three years must consider a Fresh Start. The Government is intending to make £60 million of capital funding available for Fresh Start schools and City Academies this year and an additional £13 million will be made available to cover the transition costs of setting up the new schools and embedding best practice.
	Fresh Start has been an option for some of the hardest cases. The schools are new and fragile, and there are no quick fixes. But there are early signs of improvement in the first schools. Exam results are up and truancy down--to a marked degree.
	
		
			  5+ A*-C GCSEs Unauthorised Absence 
			 School/Year 1997 1999 1997 1999 
			 Firvale 57 80 8.9 3.2 
			 Firfield Community School 43 74 12.6 3.3 
			 The King's School 81 91 13.2 8.5 
		
	
	Fresh Start is one of a number of options aimed at turning round failing schools more quickly. The average turn-around time for special measures schools now stands at 18 months for schools coming on to special measures since May 1997. This is down from
	25 months for schools coming under special measures between 1993 and April 1997.
	
		
			 New School Name Former School Name Phase School Address LEA Area Head's Name School Tel. Date Closed Date of Fresh Start 
			 Firfield Community School Blakelaw School Sec Firfield Road, Newcastle Upon Tyne NE5 3HU Newcastle Russ Wallace 0191 286 3211 31 Aug 98 01 Sep 98 
			  
			 Fir Vale School Earl Marshal School Sec Earl Marshal Road, Sheffield S4 8LA Sheffield Hugh Howe 0114 243 9391 31 Aug 98 01 Sep 98 
			  
			 East Brighton College of Media Arts The Marina High School Sec Wilson Avenue, Brighton, East Sussex BN2 5PB Brighton Clive Frost 01273 692 471 31 Aug 99 01 Sep 99 
			  
			 Islington Arts and Media George Orwell School Sec Turfe Road, London N4 3LS Islington Dr John Hudson 020 7281 5511 31 Aug 99 01 Sep 99 
			  
			 Kingswood High School Perronet Thompson School Sec Wawne Road, Bransholme, Hull HU7 4WR Kingston upon Hull Kevin Beaton 01482 879 967 31 Aug 99 01 Sep 99 
			  
			 Telegraph Hill Hatcham Wood School Sec Wallbutton Road, London SE24 2NY Lewisham Michael Davis 0171 732 2122 31 Aug 99 01 Sep 99 
			  
			 Bishopsford Community School Watermeads High School Sec Lilleshall Road, Morden, Surrey SM4 6DU Merton Paul Harwood 0181 687 1157 31 Aug 99 01 Sep 99 
			  
			 River Leen School Alderman Derbyshire School Sec Hucknall Lane, Bulwell, Nottingham NG6 8AQ Nottingham City Tom Megahy 0115 927 8425 31 Aug 99 01 Sep 99 
			 Regis County Secretary The King's CE School Sec Regis Road, Tattenhall, Wolverhampton WV6 8XG Wolverhampton Tim Gallager 01902 558333 31 Aug 99 01 Sep 99 
			  
			 New Parks Community College New College Sec Greencoat Road, Leicester LE3 6PN Leicester City Judith Mullen 0116 2873l774 31 Aug 98 01 Sep 98 
			  
			 Langham School Park View Academy Sec Langham Road, Tottenham, London N15 3RB Haringey Peter Walker 020 8888 1722 31 Aug 99 01 Sep 99 
			  
			 The Richard Heathcote Community Primary Heathcote County Primary Prim Alsagers Bank, Stoke-on-Trent Staffordshire Sylvia Rizak 01782 720 406 31 Dec 99 01 Jan 00 
			  
			 Manor Oak Primary Kevington Primary School Prim Sweeps Lane, off Blacksmith Lane, St. Mary Cray, Orpington, Kent BR5 3PE Bromley Mrs Yvonne Marsh 01689 828 099 31 Dec 99 07 Jan 00 
			  
			 Grove Vale Primary Goose Green Primary Prim Grove Vale, East Dulwich, London SE22 8DT Southwark Mrs Pat Ford 0181 693 3568 01 Apr 00 01 Apr 00 
			  
			 Christ Church CE VC Primary New Christ Church CE VC Primary Prim Milman Road, Reading RG2 0AY Reading Mrs B Revie 01734 871 019 01 May 00 01 May 00